Cluster of Excellence "Religion and Politics"
Status: Organisation is active
Email address: religionundpolitik@uni-muenster.de
| Address: | Johannisstr. 1 48143 Münster Germany |
Profile
The Cluster of Excellence “Religion and Politics. Dynamics of Tradition and Innovation” has been investigating since 2007 the complex relationship between religion and politics across eras and cultures. The 140 researchers from 20 disciplines in the humanities and social sciences focus in the funding phase (2019 to 2025) on the “dynamics of tradition and innovation”. They analyze in transepochal studies ranging from antiquity to the present day the conditions and factors that make religion an engine of political and social change, with their focus being above all on the paradox that religions often develop their innovative potential precisely by drawing on their traditions. The researchers concentrate on the monotheistic religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and on their polytheistic precursors. The focus of interest is on Europe and the Mediterranean region, as well as on their entanglements with the Near East, Africa, North and Latin America. The research network is the largest of its kind in Germany; and, of the Clusters of Excellence, one of the oldest and the only one to deal with the issue of religion.
Publications
Harris, Stephen E.; Schmidt-Leukel, Perry (eds.) (2026) London - New York: Bloomsbury Academic. Book (edited collection) | Published | |
Schmidt-Leukel, Perry (2026) In: Harris, Stephen E.; Schmidt-Leukel, Perry (eds.), Śāntideva and the Dynamics of Tradition. Doctrinal, Social, and Interreligious Contexts, 107-120. London - New York: Bloomsbury Academic. Research article (book contribution) | Peer reviewed | Published | |
Schmidt-Leukel, Perry; Harris, Stephen E. (2026) In: Harris, Stephen E; Schmidt-Leukel, Perry (eds.), Śāntideva and the Dynamics of Tradition. Doctrinal, Social, and Interreligious Contexts, 1-13. London - New York: Bloomsbury Academic. Research article (book contribution) | Peer reviewed | Published | |
Doering, Lutz (2025) In: Becker, Eve-Marie, Egelhaaf-Gaiser, Ulrike, Fürst, Alfons (eds.), Handbuch Brief – Antike, 670-682. Berlin: De Gruyter. Research article (book contribution) | Peer reviewed | Published | |
Kogman-Appel, Katrin (2025) In: Levin, Vladimir; Liberman-Mintz, Sharon; Talgam, RIna (eds.), Welcoming Visuality: New Studies in Jewish Art and Material Culture. Leiden and Boston: Brill. Research article (book contribution) | Peer reviewed | accepted / in press (not yet published) |
Projects
Duration: 21/11/2024 - 22/11/2024 Funded by: Federal Ministry of the Interior Type of project: Scientific Event | |
Duration: 01/10/2024 - 31/12/2025 | 1st Funding period Funded by: DFG - Cluster of Excellence Type of project: Subproject in DFG-joint project hosted at University of Münster | |
Duration: 01/07/2024 - 31/12/2025 Funded by: Österreichischer Fonds zur Dokumentation von religiös motiviertem politischen Extremismus (Dokumentationsstelle Politischer Islam) Type of project: Individual project | |
Duration: since 01/01/2024 | 1st Funding period Funded by: DFG - Cluster of Excellence Type of project: Subproject in DFG-joint project hosted at University of Münster | |
Duration: since 01/01/2024 | 1st Funding period Funded by: DFG - Cluster of Excellence Type of project: Subproject in DFG-joint project hosted at University of Münster |
Preisverleihungen
| Fellow of the Royal Historical Society Awarded by: Royal Historical Society (RHistS) Award given to: Jensz, Felicity Ann Announced at: 02/05/2025 | Date of awarding: 02/05/2025 Type of distinction: Research award or other distinction | |
| Herbert-Haag-Preis 2025 Awarded by: Herbert Haag Stiftung für Freiheit in der Kirche Award given to: El Omari, Dina Announced at: 22/11/2024 | Date of awarding: 06/04/2025 Type of distinction: Research award or other distinction | |
| Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize 2025 Awarded by: German Research Foundation (DFG) Award given to: Seewald, Michael Announced at: 11/12/2024 | Date of awarding: 19/03/2025 Type of distinction: Research award or other distinction | |
| Bristol Benjamin Meaker Distingished Visting Professor 2025 Awarded by: University of Bristol Award given to: Jensz, Felicity Announced at: 30/08/2024 | Date of awarding: 01/02/2025 Type of distinction: Research award or other distinction | |
| Preis zur Förderung des Wissenschaftlichen Nachwuchses 2021 Awarded by: Universitätsgesellschaft Münster e.V. Award given to: Doering, Pia Claudia Announced at: 06/07/2021 | Date of awarding: 15/07/2021 Type of distinction: Research award or other distinction |
Promotionen
| [Working title] Romania as a special case? The treatment of Catholics of Jewish origin by the Vatican and European states during the Shoah. Candidate: König, Lorena | Supervisors: Wolf, Hubert Schüller, Thomas Period of time: 07/10/2024 - today Doctoral examination procedure finished at: Doctoral examination procedure at University of Münster | |
| [Working title] Elite Networks in Hellenistic Babylonia: beyond Continuity and Change Candidate: Verhelst, Nicolaas | Supervisors: Kleber, Kristin; Jursa, Michael Period of time: 01/07/2023 - today Doctoral examination procedure finished at: Doctoral examination procedure at University of Münster | |
| [Working title] Paganisierungen: Erinnertes Heidentum als Element skandinavischer und europäischer Identitäten Candidate: Hauke, Simon | Supervisors: Scheel, Roland Period of time: 01/05/2023 - today Doctoral examination procedure finished at: Doctoral examination procedure at University of Münster | |
| [Working title] Christian Hegemony in Secular Courts? Legal Mobilization and Rights Advocacy by Christian Right Groups in the United States and Europe Candidate: Al Nassre, Iman | Supervisors: Ahlhaus, Svenja Period of time: 01/04/2023 - today Doctoral examination procedure finished at: Doctoral examination procedure at University of Münster | |
| [Working title] News from China? – Knowledge-ressources, Knowledge-acquisition and Knowledge-transfer of Missionaries in China in the 19./20. Century. Candidate: Kerl, Lisa | Supervisors: Storm, Kerstin Period of time: 15/10/2022 - today Doctoral examination procedure finished at: Doctoral examination procedure at University of Münster |
Habilitationen
Szenarien – Modellierungen des Politischen im deutschsprachigen Drama Candidate: Wilhelms, Kerstin | Reviewers: Wagner-Egelhaaf, MartinaPeriod of time: 01/10/2016 - 01/10/2025 Habilitation procedure finished at: Habilitation procedure at University of Münster | |
Migration and Territoriality Candidate: Hoesch, Matthias | Reviewers: Schmücker, Reinold; Dübgen, FranziskaPeriod of time: 15/05/2024 - 16/06/2025 Habilitation procedure finished at: Habilitation procedure at University of Münster | |
Umstrittene Grenzüberschreitungen. Paarbeziehungen und Eheschließungsvorhaben mit „Ausländern“ in Deutschland, 1870-1945 Candidate: Lorke Christoph | Reviewers: Großbölting Thomas, Bungert Heike, Große Kracht KlausPeriod of time: 01/04/2013 - 08/07/2019 Habilitation procedure finished at: Habilitation procedure at University of Münster | |
Recht und Wahrheit im Decameron. Die novellistische Analyse juristischer Erkenntniswege Candidate: Doering, Pia Claudia | Reviewers: Bauer-Funke, Cerstin; Kannowski, Bernd; Langer, Ullrich; Leuker, Tobias; Westerwelle, KarinPeriod of time: until 20/05/2019 Habilitation procedure finished at: Habilitation procedure at University of Münster | |
Das Verhältnis von Moral und Religion bei Johann Michael Sailer und Immanuel Kant. Ein Beitrag zur Debatte um das Profil philosophischer Theologie und… Candidate: Wasmaier-Sailer Margit | Reviewers: Müller, Klaus; Feiter, ReinhardPeriod of time: 25/07/2017 - 25/07/2017 Habilitation procedure finished at: Habilitation procedure at University of Münster |
Vorträge
| "Lolita - 70 Jahre später" Martina Wagner-Egelhaaf (08/12/2025) Rotary Club Münster, Zwei Löwen-Club Münster Type of talk: scientific talk | |
| Pursuing the Transformation Towards 1.5° Societies in Times of Polarisation Becker, Lea M.; Berker, Lars; Fuchs, Doris (08/12/2025) The Politics of Limits: Sustainability and Democracy in Times of Changing Climates, Essen Type of talk: scientific talk | |
| Roundtable discussion “Justice as a Foundation for the Sustainability Transformation” Fuchs, Doris; Buttschardt, Tillmann; Pauliuk, Stefan; Di Giulio, Antonietta; Mont, Oksana (05/12/2025) RIFS Conference 2025: ”Tough Conversations in Tough Times”, Berlin Type of talk: scientific talk | |
| Criteria and Pathways for Democratic Innovations for Sustainable, Reciprocal and Inclusive Futures Buth, Vanessa; Fuchs, Doris; Berendt, Paula; Cots, Francesc (03/12/2025) RIFS Conference 2025: ”Tough Conversations in Tough Times”, Berlin Type of talk: scientific talk | |
| Roundtable Discussion on Strategic Springboards for Consumption Corridors Fuchs, Doris (03/12/2025) RIFS Conference 2025: ”Tough Conversations in Tough Times”, Berlin Type of talk: scientific talk |